Flying with custom made Wheelchair

mollzer

I'm asking for some advice/knowledge for a friend. This person has severe Cerebral Palsy and uses a custom made wheelchair but needs to travel to a family wedding next year - anyone know what the procedure is for traveling with Aer Lingus?

Is the wheelchair taken apart before embarking on the plane and stuck in with baggage?

Is the wheelchair user carried onto the plane?

Would the person have to be strapped into an ordinary chair or in 2018 is there any other facilities yet for people with severe disabilities to travel by aeroplane? Or can this person use additional straps as well as the flight buckle/safety belt?

Thanks in advance is anyone has any info (or is this post needs to go somewhere else Mod).

Pat Dunne

Why not contact OCS, who provide the Special Assistance service for all airlines at Dublin Airport and clarify your requirements in advance.
Here is a link
https://www.dublinairport.com/at-the-airport/passenger-information/special-assistance

mollzer

Thank you Pat, I'll give them a try.

LiamaDelta

There are many options for you. You can transfer to OCS upon arrival at the airport and then check the wheelchair in for the airline to carry from there. OCS will then transfer you through security and on to the plane using their own wheelchair. Or you can bring your own chair all the way to the gate and the ground staff will put it in the hold for you. There are a number of restrictions on electric chairs etc. and also if it is an expensive chair I would hesitate in checking it in as luggage - I have no experience of this - other may have more info. OCS are really helpful and professional, it's no harm to give them a call.

TheChizler

Be sure to check what type of batteries are used as some aren't allowed on-board, and they might need a certificate stating their capacity if the chair is custom and doesn't have a manual.

mollzer

Thanks guys!

I've sent off an enquiry to OCS

Irish Steve

Another factor will be which route (and as a result aircraft type) the trip is going to be using. A long haul flight will mean the chair goes in the rear most baggage compartment, and that is also likely to be the case for the Airbus 320 series, whereas the ATR does not have the same types of baggage systems, so it will have to go in with all the other baggage. There are indeed specialist requirements for battery powered wheelchairs, it's a long time since I was handling them, but at that time, they were strapped down in the back hold on the long haul flights, to try and avoid damage in the event of turbulence.

OCS are very helpful and courteous. They’ve been seeing people with limited mobility onto planes safely and speedily for years. Had to avail of their services when I’d broken my leg while visiting family abroad. I didn’t have a wheel chair so they used one of their own. My OH was able to stay with me at all times.

Bazzy

I travelled with an aunty who cant use her legs following a bad accident recently on an Aerlingus service

The crew couldnt have been anymore helpful at all they went above and beyond

OCS we're beyond professional courteous and treated her in a dignified manner.

Shes was delighted with the service same as with the lads in lanzarote all very professional


She took her own chair to the gate and they transferred her onto a smaller one which could fit down the aisle and put her one in the hold she was transferred to it in lanzarote

She had to cross her hands/arms shoulder to shoulder and they out a small strap like thing around her legs so they would stay together

She was very happy with the whole experience

I understand it may be different for your family member

But OCS we're very very good

Jacovs

I dont work for EI but we handle many other airlines in Dublin.
Most motorised wheelchairs we get are drycell battery powered. If they cant physically disconnect from the wheelchair then most airlines are happy if the wheelchair can be turned off and isolated so it cant turn on while being handled or in transit.
For ELI (lithium ion) battery powered wheelchairs the battery has to be removed and travel in the cabin with the passenger and the captain notified of the location/seat number.
Wet cell battery powered wheelchairs are not very common anymore and most airlines do not accept them for travel anymore.
In all cases be prepared to supply the weight of the chair, weight of the battery, type of battery, and the power output of the battery. Airlines can request these and they have.
Some airlines also have a policy of putting wheelchairs in seperate containers and tying them down inside the container on spreader boards to avoid movement.
Others will tie them down in the bulk hold of the aircraft on spreader boards.

OCS are very good and will assist you if needed from check in all the way into your seat. Or if you can get to the gate yourself then they will assist you from there.
If the aircraft is docked to an airbridge then most airlines will let you take your own chair all the way to the aircraft door before being transfered to the OCS aisle chair and then assisted to your seat.
Otherwise you will be assisted into a Ambulift truck and then assisted onto the aircraft.

If possible it is preferable to board first especially if you are sitting further down the aisle. Also gives the guys on the ramp more time to look after your chair properly.

But again, all airlines have their own rules and refulations which all staff have to comply with so best to ask EI aswell and have the information about the chair ready when you call.